United℠ Explorer Card

• Priority boarding on United® flights‍
• 2 United Club one-time passes per year - over a $100 value
• Free first checked bag - a savings of up to $200 per round-trip. Terms Apply. Plus, priority boarding on United® flights.
• Up to $120 Global Entry, TSA PreCheck® or NEXUS fee credit
• Over $500 in partner credits each year
• NEW! Save 10% or more when booking flights with miles. Premier members save even more.

[.dontreco] We don’t recommend: Using United miles for merchandise or gift cards [.dontreco]

While United offers multiple redemption options, using miles for non-travel rewards like merchandise or gift cards often gives you less than 1 cent per mile in value — a poor return compared to flights. Stick to travel redemptions for the best possible deal.
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[.sometimesreco] We sometimes recommend: Booking United flights directly with miles [.sometimesreco]

Redeeming United miles for flights on United’s website can be a solid choice, especially for domestic economy tickets. But, United uses dynamic pricing, meaning some flights may not offer the best redemption value. Always compare the miles vs. cash price before booking.
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[.alwaysreco] We always recommend: Using miles for flights on Star Alliance partners [.alwaysreco]

The best value for United miles often comes from bookings via Star Alliance partners like Lufthansa, ANA and Singapore Airlines. These flights can offer a redemption value well over 2 cents per mile, making your miles stretch further.

United MileagePlus miles can’t be transferred to other programs, but they can be redeemed for flights on Star Alliance partners, including: Lufthansa, Air Canada, Singapore Airlines, ANA, Turkish Airlines and more. This opens up a world of premium cabin redemptions that often have a better value compared to domestic United flights.

1. The United Flyer Looking for Value‍

If you fly United but don’t want to pay for a premium travel card, this is a great middle ground. The first-year $0 intro annual fee makes it an easy entry point, and benefits like free checked bags, priority boarding and travel credits add pretty great value. Even occasional United flyers can justify this card based on perks alone. And, if you make good use of the welcome offer and travel perks, you’ll likely come out ahead. If the perks don’t justify the annual fee after year one, you can always downgrade or cancel.

2. The Rewards Maximizer‍

If you like optimizing your miles, the United Explorer Card should not be slept on. It pairs well with Chase’s flexible Ultimate Rewards program and gives you a direct way to earn and redeem MileagePlus miles efficiently. By using the right mix of earning and redemption strategies, you can get serious value from this card’s benefits and bonus categories. If you’re looking for a travel card with a healthy balance of affordability and perks, this one is worth considering.

Here’s a good rule of thumb: You probably shouldn’t own a credit card if you: (1) have a bad credit score, (2) are a non-U.S. resident (for this particular card), and (3) cannot control your spending. If your credit score is low, you'll need to improve it before applying for travel credit cards, as approval for the best ones, like the United Explorer Card, is unlikely. Be honest with yourself: if a new credit card will tempt you to overspend, it's best to avoid it. Credit cards are crucial for earning miles, but they require responsible use.

The recommended credit score for the United Explorer Card is good to excellent. But again, if you’re in a solid place with your credit and feel you are ready for a new card, don’t let the fear of being rejected keep you from applying. We’ve known several people to be rejected on their first application, call Chase to please their case, and be granted the United Explorer Card.